[K6BW] FCC "no code test" February 23, 2007

[Steve Johnson]

Codeless Amateur Radio Testing Regime Appears Set to
Begin February 23
NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 19, 2007 -- The ARRL has learned
that the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the "Morse
code proceeding," WT Docket 05-235, is scheduled to
appear in the Federal Register Wednesday, January 24.
Assuming that occurs, the new Part 97 rules deleting
any Morse code examination requirement for Amateur
Radio license applicants would go into effect Friday,
February 23, 2007. The League cautions that this date
is tentative, pending official confirmation and
publication. 

"This change eliminates an unnecessary regulatory
burden that may discourage current Amateur Radio
operators from advancing their skills and
participating more fully in the benefits of Amateur
Radio," the FCC remarked in the Morse code R&O. 

Publication of the R&O in the Federal Register starts
a 30-day countdown for the new rules to go on the
books. The FCC reportedly completed its work on the
R&O this week and forwarded it to the Federal Register
receiving desk. The Federal Register must make the
document available for public inspection 24 hours
prior to publication. Federal Register personnel are
constrained by law from saying if a particular R&O is
in the publication queue, however. Rules and
regulations that appear in the Federal Register
constitute their official version. 

Deletion of the Morse requirement is a landmark in
Amateur Radio history. Until 1991, when a code
examination was dropped from the requirements to
obtain a Technician ticket, all prospective radio
amateurs had to pass a Morse test. Once the new rules
are in place, Amateur Radio license applicants no
longer will have to demonstrate Morse code proficiency
at any level to gain access to the HF bands. 

On or after the effective date of the new rules, an
applicant holding a valid Certificate of Successful
Completion of Examination (CSCE) for a higher license
class will be able to redeem it for an upgrade. For
example, a Technician licensee holding a valid CSCE
for Element 3 (General) could apply at a VEC exam
session, pay the application fee -- which most VECs
charge -- and receive an instant upgrade. A CSCE is
good only for 365 days from the date of issuance.
Candidates for General or Amateur Extra between now
and the effective date of the new rules still must
have Element 1 (5 WPM Morse code) credit to obtain new
privileges, however. 

The new rules also mean that all Technician licensees,
whether or not they've passed a Morse code
examination, will gain HF privileges identical to
those of current Novice and Tech Plus (or Technician
with Element 1 credit) licensees without having to
apply for an upgrade. Novices and Technicians with
Element 1 credit have CW privileges on 80, 40, 15
meters and CW, RTTY, data and SSB privileges on 10
meters. 

The FCC R&O includes an Order on Reconsideration in WT
Docket 04-140 -- the so-called "omnibus" proceeding.
It will modify the Amateur Service rules in response
to ARRL's request to accommodate automatically
controlled narrowband digital stations on 80 meters in
the wake of other rule changes that were effective
last December 15. The Commission designated 3585 to
3600 kHz for such operations, although that segment
will remain available for CW, RTTY and data. 

The ARRL has been posting all relevant information on
these important Part 97 rule revisions on its "FCC's
Morse Code Report and Order WT Docket 05-235" Web
page. 
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Page last modified: 04:12 PM, 19 Jan 2007 ET
Page author: awextra at arrl.org 
Copyright © 2007, American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. 

 
   73 KI6ADA
  Steve Johnson